5 of 8The 1984 XJ Cherokee was the only compact SUV to offer both two- and four-door models.

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6 of 8The 1984 Cherokee was the first vehicle with two available 4x4 systems.

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7 of 8The Cherokee Laredo was a premium trim option.

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8 of 8The 2014 Jeep Cherokee is replacing the Liberty, and is scheduled to go into production in May.

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About the New York auto show

The Jeep Cherokee is one of the vehicles that jump-started the entire SUV phenomenon. One of Jeep's best-selling models for more than 20 years, it has been 12 years since we heard from the compact SUV in the United States.

The Cherokee name was introduced in 1974 by American Motors, and it was far from compact. Known to engineers and Jeepoholics as the SJ, it was introduced as the “sporty” two-door equivalent to the four-door Wagoneer.

Sporty attributes included bucket seats, a sport steering wheel and detailing designed to appeal to younger drivers.

It was the first production SUV to have the option of full-time 4WD (Jeep's QuadraTrac system), and was offered in two body styles: the Cherokee wide-track with 3-inch wider axles and fender flares, and the Cherokee with normal size axles and no fender flares.

The 1974 Cherokee was considered an ideal off-road vehicle, but driving it on the street required conscious attention. It wandered badly, and the interior was filled with rattling pieces that didn't fit quite right.

The original Cherokee was powered by a 6.6-liter V8 engine mated to a three-speed transmission. Output was 215 hp and 325 lb-ft torque. During an Autoweek test drive in 1973, the best gas mileage we ever got from the Cherokee was 11 mpg, and that was with the air conditioning off.

Still, its popularity was such that AMC expanded the model range to include a four-door version in 1977. It stayed in production until 1983.

Starting in the late 1970s, AMC and partner Renault worked to create a compact SUV to replace the rugged but aging body-on-frame SJ platform. AMC spent about $250 million for the design and production, an investment it justified by claiming the compact SUV was “the future” for automobiles in the United States.

The result was the first unibody four-door sport utility vehicle: the compact XJ Cherokee and Wagoneer sports wagons.

The XJ Cherokee made its debut in 1984 and was produced until 2001. It was 21 inches shorter, 6 inches narrower, 4 inches lower and 1,000 pounds lighter than the full-size SJ. It was also the first vehicle with two available 4x4 systems: Command-Trac part-time and Selec-Trac full-time 4x4. Until the Mitsubishi Montero was introduced in 1988, it was also the only compact SUV to offer both two- and four-door models.

The XJ Cherokee was fitted with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, or a 2.8-liter V6. A 4.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine debuted in 1987.

At the time, the 2.5-liter displacement was high for a four-cylinder, but AMC was trying to produce a powerplant that delivered reasonable fuel economy without eliminating power. The update netted 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving when mated to a manual.

Its smaller size equated to less off-road capability, but the vehicle became a lot more agile -- performing remarkably like a passenger car in on-road scenarios.

The Cherokee was expected to be discontinued to make way for the new flagship Grand Cherokee, but when ownership of AMC and the Jeep brand transitioned to Chrysler in 1987, it was decided Cherokee sales were too strong to eliminate.

Updates to the third generation were not significant. The grille and nose became one piece instead of several, and the fog lamps were mounted low to improve appearance and functionality. New taillights were set beside a new hidden-hinge tailgate with a rear handle.

Inside was a new dashboard to accommodate a passenger-side airbag, steering wheel and gauge cluster.

Jeep stopped producing the Cherokee after 2001. During its tenure it has been the basis for the Compass, Liberty and Patriot.

The 2014 Jeep Cherokee is replacing the Liberty, and is scheduled to go into production in May. It is expected to be powered by a 3.2-liter V6 engine, and a new nine-speed front-wheel-drive automatic transmission.